The alliance of maritime powers against pirates
The end of the golden age of piracy was a gradual process, marked by a series of legal reforms, military actions and international cooperation. Under growing pressure from merchants and colonists, maritime powers, notably Great Britain, stepped up their fight against pirates in the early 18th century. As early as 1701, the British colonies were authorized to try and execute pirates on the spot, a decisive turning point in repression.
The great maritime nations, such as England and France, launched naval expeditions, arming modern warships to patrol the infested waters. The Royal Navy, in particular, became a major player in tracking down freebooters, disrupting their operations and destroying their lairs. New Providence, one of the Bahamas' most notorious pirate havens, was finally closed in 1718 under Governor Woodes Rogers, who led a ruthless campaign with the Royal Navy to suppress the pirates.
At the same time, severe repressive laws, such as the Piracy Act of 1698, were passed, declaring pirates enemies of the state. Some colonial governors, such as Alexander Spotswood in Virginia and Nicholas Lawes in Jamaica, played a key role in this repression. They offered many pirates a royal pardon in exchange for their surrender. This strategy, combined with financial rewards for the capture of pirates, considerably weakened their power.
Special courts were set up for speedy trials and public executions. At places like Deadman's Cay in Jamaica, pirate hangings served as examples, while at Execution Dock in London, pirates' corpses were displayed in iron cages, leaving their bodies to decompose as a warning to sailors. Mass executions were commonplace, illustrated by the hanging of 52 members of Bartholomew Roberts' crew at Cape Coast Castle in 1722.
In the Indian Ocean, the British East India Company took similar measures to protect its convoys, reinforcing maritime security and tracking down pirates on these routes. Their combined efforts made life increasingly difficult for pirates: their safe havens were destroyed, their smuggling networks disbanded, and the penalties increasingly severe.
The end of piracy was the result of international cooperation between the great maritime powers, improved naval forces, and strict laws against pirates. These measures marked the end of the golden age of freebooters, restoring security to major trade routes. Although piracy never completely disappeared, it ceased to be a major threat to maritime trade.